Medical Gown with Locations for Securing Medical Tubing

ABSTRACT

A medical gown with one or more locations for secure medical tubing is described herein. In some implementations, the medical gown may include an internal band on an interior portion of the gown to store one or more medical tubes as the tubing travels from a treatment point (e.g., catheter placement site) of a patient inside the medical gown through the internal band of the medical gown to a site external to the medical gown (e.g., urinary drainage bag).

BACKGROUND

Generally, while a person is in a medical facility receiving treatmentthey are required to wear an issued medical gown. Additionally, suchperson may also be receiving the treatment via various medical tubing(e.g., intravenous (IV) tubing, catheters, chest drainage tubing, etc.)In many cases, due to the movement of the patient and/or the mentalstate of the patient, the medical tubing may be knowingly or unknowinglyremoved or displaced from its intended position. This may causesignificant medical complications. Accordingly, there remains a need foran improved medical gown which stores the various medical tubing andsignificantly decreases the chance that the medical tubing will beremoved by the patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanyingfigures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference numberidentifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. Theuse of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similaror identical components or features.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example medical gown having an internalband for securing one or more medical tubes.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example medical gown having an internal bandwith a plurality of access points for placement of medical tubing.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of an internal band for securingmedical tubing of varying gauges as the medical tubing passes from alocation external to a medical gown toward a location on the interior ofthe medical gown.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example medical gown having a horizontalinternal band and a plurality of internal bands for housing one or moremedical tubes.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram of a process for securingmedical tubing through a gown according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example flow diagram of a process for securinginternal bands housing a portion of medical tubing to an exampleattachment location on an interior portion of a medical gown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes various implementations of a medical gown withone or more locations to secure medical tubing. In some implementations,the medical gown may be disposable or a one-time use type gown. Forexample, the gown may be made of polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene,nitrile, or a combination thereof. In other implementations, the gownmay be washable for multiple uses. In those examples, the gown may bemade of textile material such as any combination of cotton, rayon,polyester, or the like. In some implementations, the gown may repelfluids and/or have anti-static properties. In some implementations, themedical gown may be configured for use in dissipative isolationsettings. The medical gown may be made in various lengths and sizes.

As described herein, the medical gown may include one or more locationsfor concealing one or more medical tubes used in the medical treatmentof the gown wearer. For example, the medical gown may provide a hollow,horizontal internal band or belt around the waist area to house medicaltubing (e.g., urinary catheter tubing, oxygen treatment tubing, IVtubing, chest drainage tubing, etc.) as the tubing runs from the patientto the treatment source (i.e., urinary drainage bag, IV infusion pump,etc.). In some implementations, the internal band may house multiplemedical tubes. In some implementations, the internal band may have aplurality of access points located at various positions to allow forconvenient and selective access to the medical tubing through themedical gown. In some implementations, the medical tubing may beremovable from the medical gown. However, in other implementations, themedical tubing may be manufactured as part of a disposable medical gown.In this implementation, the medical gown may be package as sterile toprotect the integrity of the included medical tubing.

In some implementations, the medical gown may have one or more verticalinternal bands running vertically from the waist area to the neck area.In some implementations, one or more of the vertical internal bands mayused in conjunction with the horizontal internal band. In otherimplementations, the one or more of the vertical internal bands may beused separate from the horizontal internal band. The one or more of thevertical internal bands may house various medical tubing as describedabove.

In some implementations, the internal band and/or sleeve (i.e.,horizontal and/or vertical) may be fabricated as part of a medical gown.However, in other implementations, the internal band and/or sleeve maybe configured to removably attach to an interior portion of a medicalgown. The internal band and sleeve may be made of the same material asthe corresponding medical gown or of other materials. In someimplementations, the internal band and sleeve may be made of, forexample, latex-free rubber, nylon, polyester, cotton, neoprene, or thelike.

In some implementations, a non-exhaustive list of materials for which awashable, multiple-use gown may be made includes cotton, rayon,polyester, carbon or a combination thereof. In some implementations, anon-exhaustive list of materials for which a disposable gown may be madeincludes polyethylene, polypropylene, propylene, nitrile, or acombination thereof.

A medical gown with built-in medical tubing may be implemented in manyways. Example implementations are provided below with reference to thefigures.

Example Medical Gown

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a front view and a back view respectively of anexample medical gown 100. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the examplemedical gown 100 includes an opening 102 on the back on the gown 100. Insome implementations, the opening may be on the front or either side ofthe gown 100. In some implementations, medical gown 100 may include aplurality of closure mechanisms shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B as ties104(1)-(3). In other implementations, any number of closure mechanismsmay be used to close and secure the medical gown to the user. Inaddition, closure mechanisms may be implemented with a hook-and-looptype fastener, buttons, zippers, adhesives, or the like. It is alsonoted that medical gown may be configured in any color and in any numberof sizes and lengths to accommodate user of all sizes. Furthermore,medical gown 100 may be configured with any suitable sleeve length.

Medical gown 100 may also include an internal band 106 on an interiorportion of a medical gown 100. In some implementations, the internalband 106 may be manufactured as a part of the medical gown 100. Forexample, the internal band 106 may be made of the same material as themedical gown 100. However, in other implementations, the internal bandmay be removable from the medical gown 100 and/or made from a differentmaterial than the medical gown 100. The geometry of internal band 106 isshown in FIG. 1 as generally rectangular; however, in otherimplementations, internal band 106 (or any other internal band describedherein) may be any other suitable geometry (e.g., any quadrilateral,ovoid, circular, or the like).

Internal band 106 may be a hollow sleeve shaped to house medical tubingof various sizes. In some implementations, the internal band 106 may beconfigured to house medical tubing of various gauges. In someimplementations, the internal band 106 may be configured to housemedical tubing having an external diameter of at least 0.005 inch, atleast 0.01 inch, at least 0.1 inch, 0.5 inch, or at least 1.0 inch. Insome implementations, the internal band 106 may be configured to housemedical tubing having an external diameter no greater than 1.0 inch, nogreater than 0.5 inch, no greater than 0.1 inch, no greater than 0.01inch, or no greater than 0.001 inch. In some implementations, theinternal band 106 may be configured to house medical tubing having anexternal diameter from about 0.005 inch to about 1 inch.; from about 0.1inch to about 0.5 inch, or from about 0.184 inch to about 0.26 inch.

In some implementations, the internal band 106 may be configured tohouse more than one medical tube. For example, the internal band 106 mayhouse catheter tubing with a large diameter and IV tubing with a smallerdiameter. However, any number of medical tubing combinations housed inthe internal band 106 are envisioned. In some implementations, themedical gown 100 may include an internal pocket or other features forsecuring excess medical tubing.

In some implementations, internal band 106 may include various accesspoints 108(1) and 108(2), each access point may provide an entry and/orexit location for the medical tubing. FIGS. 1A and 1B show two accesspoints; however, as described in later FIGS., the internal band mayinclude any number of access points. In some implementations, the accesspoints 108(1) and/or 108(2) may allow a user to place medical tubinginto the hollow portion of the internal band 106 or may allow a user toremove a portion of the medical tubing from the internal band 106. Forexample, the access points may allow a nurse to feed a portion ofmedical tubing into the hollow portion of the internal band from theoutside of the medical gown and once the medical tubing reaches apreferred exit point within the internal band the nurse may remove aportion of medical tubing inside the medical gown. In this example, themedical tubing may run from a treatment point (e.g., catheter placementsite) of a patient inside the medical gown through the internal band ofthe medical gown to a site external to the medical gown (e.g., urinarydrainage bag). Since the medical tubing is located within the internalband (i.e., inside the medical gown) the chance of the medical tubingcatching and/or snagging a surface and causing unintentional removal ofthe medical tubing placement is reduced.

In some implementations, each access point of the internal band 106 mayinclude a plurality of holes. In some implementations, each of the holesmay be a same size; however, in other implementations, each of the holesmay be different sizes. For example, one hole at an access point may beconfigured with a larger diameter to allow passage of catheter tubing,while another hole at the same access point may be configured with asmaller diameter to allow passage of oxygen treatment tubing.

In some implementations, the medical tubing may be placed with and/orremoved from the internal band of medical gown 100 by a user. In otherimplementations as described below, the medical tubing may bemanufactured as a non-removable portion of the medical gown.

FIG. 2 shows another example medical gown 200 with an internal band 202.As mentioned above, internal band 202 may include a plurality of accesspoints 204(1)-(5) where each access point may allow a user to customizethe placement of medical tubing with the interior portion of theinternal band 202. In some implementations, medical tubing 206, prior tointeracting with the gown wearer, may be fed through access point 204(1)to the interior portion of the internal band 202. In someimplementations, the medical tubing 206 may be further fed through thehollow interior portion of internal band 202 until an end of the medicaltubing reaches another suitable access point. As shown in FIG. 2, themedical tubing may be fed until an end of the medical tubing reachesanother desired access point. In some implementations, the medicaltubing 206 may be removed from the internal band 202 at access point204(3) in order for the medical tubing to interact with a site on apatient (e.g., catheter placement site). The direction the tubing is fedthrough the access points as described in not intended to be alimitation. In some implementations, the medical tubing may be fed frominside the medical gown to outside the medical gown.

The length of the medical tubing illustrated in FIG. 2 is reduced forease of illustration. However, it is noted that the medical tubing maybe any suitable length to accommodate any medical tubing use.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an example internal band 300 within anopened medical gown 302. As illustrated, medical gown 302 is opened toexpose an interior portion 304. In some implementations, internal band300 may be located on the interior portion 304 of medical gown 302. Forexample, the internal band 300 may be located on the interior portion304 at a waist area of a medical gown wearer. In some implementations,medical gown 302 may include a plurality of seams 306(1)-(M) configuredto hold together a plurality of portions of medical gown 302. Theposition of the plurality of seams 306(1)-(M) as illustrated in FIG. 3is but one example of a plurality of positions for the seams of amedical gown. In other implementations, the plurality of seams may belocated at any other suitable position in order to hold various portionsof a medical gown together.

As described above, the internal band 300 may be configured to secureone or more medical tubes 308(1) and 308(2) as each of the tubes passesfrom a location on the gown wearer to location external to the medicalgown 302. In some implementations, the internal band 300 may be composedof elastic material (e.g., polyurethane-polyurea copolymer,polyurethane, cotton, wool, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, etc.) inorder to secure the medical tubing placed within the hollow interiorportion of internal band. In other implementations, the internal band300 may be composed of cotton, nylon, polyester, neoprene, or anycombination thereof. In some implementations, the internal band 300 maybe removably affixed to medical gown 302. In some implementations, theinternal band 300 may be secured to the medical gown by one or morehook-and-loop type fasteners, snaps, buttons, zippers, etc. In otherimplementations, the internal band 300 may be permanently affixed tomedical gown 302 by stitching, fabric adhesives, fusible webs, or thelike.

FIG. 3 further illustrates access points 310(1)-(4). Each access pointmay provide an entry and/or exit from the internal band 300 for themedical tubing 308(1) or 308(2). FIG. 3 illustrates four access points;however, in other implementations, internal band 300 may have any numberof access points similar to those described above with regard to FIG. 2.In some implementations, access points 310(1) and 310(3) may provide anarea where medical tubing 308(1) and 308(2) may be placed within theinternal band 300 from a location outside the medical gown 302. In someimplementations, access points 310(2) and 310(4) may provide an areawhere medical tubing 308(1) and 308(2) may exit the internal band 300 toa location inside the medical gown 302.

In some implementations, each access point 310(1)-(4) may be reinforcedwith a double-stitched seam to protect the access point from wear as themedical tubing is placed within the internal band 300. In someimplementations, each access point 310(1)-(4) may be supplemented withan additional material to reinforce the integrity of the access point310(1)-(4). For example, each access point may be composed of or linedwith nylon, high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”) orpolytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”) to reduce friction between each accesspoint and an inserted medical tube. In some implementations, each accesspoint 310(1)-(4) may be reinforced with plastic or a metal grommet.

FIG. 3 illustrates that access points 310(1) and 310(2) may be largerthan access point 310(3) and 310(4) in order to accommodate acorresponding size of medical tubing interacting with each access point.In other implementations, the size may vary to accommodate any sizemedical tubing.

In some implementations, medical gown 302 may be a multiple use gown. Inthose implementations, the medical gown may be washable. In someimplementations, the medical tubing may 308(1) and 308(2) may beremovable from the internal band 300 in preparation for washing. Newsterile medical tubing may be used with medical gown 302 once the gownis washed. As described above with regard to FIG. 1, the internal bandof the multiple use medical gown may be configured to house one or moremedical tubes of various gauges and lengths.

In some implementations, the multiple use gowns may be configured withan attachment area for a plurality of interchangeable internal bands. Insome implementations, the attachment area may be configured with ahook-and-loop type fastener to secure an interchangeable internal bandto the interior of the multiple use gown. In some implementations, eachinterchangeable internal band may be configured to accommodate aspecific medical treatment, a specific medical tubing configuration,and/or patient size.

In other implementations, medical gown 302 may be a singleuse/disposable gown. In such implementations, the disposable medicalgown may be composed of the materials as described above. In someimplementations, the disposable medical gown may have medical tubingthat is fixed within the internal band. In some implementations, thedisposable medical gown with fixed medical tubing may be stored in asterile package. In other implementation, the portions of the medicaltubing extending from the internal band of the disposable medical gownmay be stored in a sterile package.

In some implementations, the disposable medical gown may be configuredwith any number (e.g., one, two, three, etc.) of medical tube built-into the internal band and/or medical tubing of any size (e.g., for IVtherapy, for urine catheter clearance, etc.). In some implementations,the disposable medical gown may be configured for a specific medicalcondition/circumstance. For example, the disposable gown may include aspecific catheter tubing diameter within the internal band and where theaccess point exits the internal band at a midline region of the medicalgown so the medical tugging can interact with a urinary catheter on apatient.

Alternative Example of Medical Gown

FIG. 4. illustrates an alternative example medical gown 400 with acomplex of internal bands. As described above, medical gown 400 includesa horizontal internal band 402 with a plurality of access point forinsertion of medical tubing across the waist area of medical gown 400.In some implementations, medical gown may also include one or morevertical internal bands such as one or both of vertical internal bands404(1) and 404(2). Internal bands 404(1) and 404(2) may be configuredsimilar to any internal band described above. In some implementationsnot illustrated, the medical gown may be configured with a plurality oflocations on an interior surface for placement of one or more internalbands. The plurality of locations on the interior surface of the medicalgown for placement of an internal band may horizontal and/or vertical asshown in FIG. 4, however, in other implementations, the locations forplacement of an internal band may run diagonal.

In some implementations, the hollow internal portion of each verticalinternal bands 404(1) and 404(2) may be connected to the hollow internalportions of horizontal internal band 402. However, in otherimplementations, each vertical internal bands 404(1) and 404(2) may beconnected to the horizontal internal band 402.

Each vertical internal bands is illustrated with a plurality of accesspoint 406(1)-(6). Medical gown 400 may be configured with a fewer numberor a greater number of access points. Each access point 406(1)-(6) maybe configured similar to any access points described above. In someimplementations, the position of access points 406(1)-(6) may allowmedical gown 400 to be used in conjunction with additional medicaltreatments. For example, the location of access points 406(2) and 406(5)substantially under the sleeve of medical gown 400 may protect medicaltubing originating at a central venous access device, central venouscatheter or peripherally inserted central catheter. In another example,the location of access points 406(3) and 406(4) substantially near thecollar of medical gown 400 may protect medical tubing providing oxygentreatment to a patient.

As described above, medical tubing may be fed through one or more accesspoints 406(1)-(6) to run from a treatment point (e.g., nasal cannula) ofa patient through one or more internal bands of the medical gown to asite external to the medical gown (e.g., oxygen gas supply source).

Example Processes

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrates example processes 500 and 600,respectively. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate example processes forimplementing the techniques described above of securing medical tubingthrough an internal band on the interior surface of a medical gown. Theorder in which the operations are described in both FIGS. 5 and 6, isnot intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of thedescribed operations can be combined in any order and/or in parallel toimplement the process.

FIG. 5 shows the process 500, at 502, at least a portion of medicaltubing may be inserted into an internal band on medical gown through oneof a plurality of access points. In the context with reference to FIG.4, at least a portion of a catheter tube may be inserted into accesspoint 406(1) of internal band 402.

At 504, the portion of medical tubing may be fed through a hollowportion of the internal band on the medical gown. Continuing the exampleabove, the catheter tube may be horizontally or vertically pushedthrough the hollow portion on the interior of the internal band.

At 506, the portion of medical tubing may be removed from the hollowportion of the internal band through another of the plurality of accesspoints. For example, the catheter tube may be removed from the hollowportion of the internal band at access point 406(6) while an adjacentportion of the medical tubing remains in the hollow portion of theinternal band.

At 508, a first of the portion of medical tubing may be attached to atreatment location of the medical gown wearer at a location on theinterior of the medical gown. For example, the catheter tube removed atstep 506 may be attached to a urinary catheter site on a patient wearingthe medical gown.

At 510, a second end of the portion of medical tubing may be attached toa treatment source at a location on the exterior of the medical gown.For example, the opposite end of the catheter tube attached at 508 maybe attached to a catheter urinary drainage container.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example process for implementing the techniquesdescribed above of securing one of a plurality of internal bandsconfigured to house a portion of medical tubing to one of a plurality ofattachment location on an interior portion of a medical gown.

At 602, the process 600 allows selection of one of a plurality ofattachment locations on an interior surface of a medical gown forremovable coupling of a plurality of internal bands. In the context ofFIG. 4., the selection of the attachment location may be a selection ofhorizontal area across the waist area of gown 400 or the selection of avertical area running from the collar to the waist are of gown 400.

At 604, one of the plurality of internal bands may be selected, whereeach internal band may be configured to secure one or more portions ofmedical tubing. For example, each internal band may be custom to aspecific medical need. That is, one internal band may be configured tohold one or more catheter tubes, while another internal band may beconfigured to hold one or more IV and/or oxygen supply tubes.

At 606, the selected internal band from 604 may be attached to theselected one of the plurality of attachment location on the interiorsurface of the medical gown from 602. For example, if the selectedinternal band is configured to hold one or more catheter tubes it may beattached to a horizontal across the waist area of a medical gown.

At 608, a first end of one of the one or more portions of medical tubingsecured in the selected internal band may be affixed to a treatmentlocation at an interior medical gown location. For example, a first endof the medical tubing may be affixed to a urinary catheter site on apatient wearing the medical gown.

At 610, a second opposite end of the one of the one or more portions ofmedical tubing secured in the selected internal band may be affixed to atreatment source at an exterior medical gown location. In someimplementations, the second opposite end may be fed through an accesspoint on the medical gown to reach from the interior medical gownlocation to the exterior medical gown location. Continuing the exampleabove, the second end of the medical tubing may be affixed to a catheterurinary drainage container.

CONCLUSION

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather,the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms ofimplementing the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medical gown comprising: a gown body having oneor more closure mechanisms to secure the medical gown to a user; atleast one internal band coupled to an interior portion of the gown body,the internal band comprising: a hollow sleeve configured to house atleast a portion of one or more medical tubing; and one or more accesspoints positioned on the internal band configured to allow access to theportion of medical tubing.
 2. The medical gown as recited in claim 1,wherein the one or more closure mechanisms comprise at least one of atie, a hook-and-loop type fastener, a plurality of buttons, a zipper, anadhesive, or a combination thereof.
 3. The medical gown as recited inclaim 1, wherein the internal band is attached along a waist area of aninterior portion of the gown body.
 4. The medical gown as recited inclaim 1, wherein the portion of medical tubing housed within the hollowsleeve of the internal band comprises at least one of a urinary cathetertube, an oxygen treatment tube, an intravenous therapy tube, or a chestdrainage tube.
 5. The medical gown as recited in claim 1, wherein theone or more access points are positioned at each end of the internalband and wherein one of the one or more access points is configured toallow the portion of medical tubing to enter the hollow sleeve of theinternal band from a location external to the gown body and another ofthe one or more access points positioned at the distal end of theinternal band is configured to allow the portion of medical tubing toexit the hollow sleeve of the internal band to a location internal tothe gown body.
 6. The medical gown as recited in claim 1, wherein themedical gown is disposable for a one time use.
 7. The medical gown asrecited in claim 1, wherein the medical gown is washable for multipleuses.
 8. A method of securing medical tubing through a gown, the methodcomprising: inserting a portion of medical tubing into an internal bandon the gown through one of a plurality of access points, wherein theinternal band is substantially located across a waist area of the gownand comprises a hollow portion to house the portion of medical tubing;feeding the portion of medical tubing through the hollow portion of theinternal band on the gown; and removing the portion of medical tubingfrom the internal band on the gown through another of the plurality ofaccess points.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the internalband comprises an elastic material to secure the portion of medicaltubing fed through the hollow portion of the internal band on the gown.10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of accesspoints are positioned at least at each end of the internal band on thegown.
 11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the hollow portionof the internal band is configured to hold a plurality of portions of asame or different medical tubing.
 12. The method as recited in claim 8,further comprising: attaching at an interior gown location an end of theportion of medical tubing to a treatment location of the gown wearer;and attaching at an exterior gown location an other end of the portionof medical tubing to a treatment source.
 13. A system for securingmedical tubing, the system comprising: a medical gown comprising: a bodyportion configured to surround a section of a gown wearer, the bodyportion having a plurality of attachment locations on an interiorsurface; a plurality of internal bands configured to removably couple tothe plurality of attachment locations on an interior surface of the bodyportion of the medical gown, each internal band comprising: a hollowportion configured to secure one or more portions of medical tubing; andtwo or more access points configured to provide access to the hollowportion.
 14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein a position ofthe two or more access points on each of the plurality of internal bandsare configured to accommodate a specific medical treatment.
 15. Thesystem as recited in claim 13, wherein the plurality of internal bandsare configured to removably couple to the plurality of attachmentlocations interior surface of the body portion by one or morehook-and-loop type fasteners.
 16. The system as recited in claim 13,wherein the plurality of attachment locations on the interior surface ofthe body portion comprises at least one of a horizontal anterior portionor a vertical anterior portion of the body portion of the medical gown.17. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the hollow portion ofeach internal band comprises an elastic material to secure the one ormore portions of medical tubing.
 18. The system as recited in claim 13,wherein at least one of the two or more access points is positioned atan end of the internal band.
 19. The system as recited in claim 13, themedical gown further comprising one or more openings corresponding aposition of the two or more access points of each internal band andwherein the hollow portion of each of the plurality of internal bands isfurther configured to secure one of the one or more portions of medicaltubing by holding a portion of medical tubing running from an exteriormedical gown location through one of the one or more opening on themedical gown through a corresponding access point into the hollowportion of the internal band while exiting the hollow portion of theinternal band at another access point toward an interior gown location.20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the medical gown iswashable for multiple uses and each of the plurality of internal bandsare disposable for a single use.